Hanging device for anodizing

ABSTRACT

An exemplary hanging device for fixing workpieces for anodizing, includes a support frame, a hook module, and a resilient member. The support frame includes an upper frame portion and a lower frame portion formed at opposite ends thereof. The hook module includes a number of connecting hooks. The resilient member is fixed to the lower frame portion. The hook module and the resilient member are made of a conductive material. The hook module is configured for connecting workpieces in series via the connecting hooks. A first end of the hook module is hung on the upper frame portion and a second end of the hook module is connected to the resilient member. The resilient member is capable of creating an elastic force to tighten the workpieces to the hook module.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure generally relates to hanging devices and,particularly, to a hanging device for anodizing.

2. Description of the Related Art

Aluminum workpieces are typically anodized to protect the bare aluminumand for appearances. In an aluminum anodizing process, the aluminumworkpieces are suspended on a hanging device. The hanging device withthe aluminum workpieces are submerged in an electrolyte solution, suchas a vitriolic solution. When the hanging device is electricallyconnected to an anode of an electrical source, the aluminum workpiecesare anodized in the electrolyte solution.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a typical hanging device 10 for hanging aplurality of aluminum workpieces 20, includes a hanging hook 11, asupport pole 12, a plurality of elastic pieces 13 fixed to the supportpole 12, and a plurality of fixing hooks 14 attached to the elasticpieces 13. The hanging hook 11, the support pole 12, and the elasticpieces 13 are generally made of titanium because titanium provideselectrical conductivity without being anodized. A copper barelectrically connected to an anode hangs from the hanging hook 11. Eachaluminum workpiece 20 defines four fixing holes 22 configured to receivethe fixing hooks 14. The aluminum workpieces 20 are hung by the fixinghooks 14, and the elastic pieces 13 create an elastic force so that thealuminum workpieces 20 are tightly connected to the fixing hooks 14.

However, the aluminum workpieces 20 are attached to the hanging device10 in a parallel connection, so that each aluminum workpiece 20 needs tobe fixed by two elastic pieces 13 and four fixing hooks 14. Therefore,if a plurality of aluminum workpieces 20 need to be fixed to the hangingdevice 10, many elastic pieces 13 and fixing hooks 14 are required. Manyelastic pieces 13 and fixing hooks 14 result in a high cost of thehanging device 10 because of the cost of titanium. In addition, thehanging device 10 cannot be adapted to fix aluminum workpieces havingdifferent sizes because it is difficult to adjust a distance between twohooks 14 fixed on opposites end of each elastic piece 13. Furthermore,since the electrical conductivity of titanium is relatively poor, anoxidation film formed on the aluminum workpieces 20 by anodizing may nothave a sufficient thickness. Moreover, it is inconvenient to fix theworkpieces 20 to the hanging device 20 by operating the elastic pieces13, one by one.

Therefore, a new hanging device for anodizing is desired to overcome theabove-described shortcomings.

SUMMARY

A hanging device for fixing workpieces for anodizing, includes a supportframe, a hook module, and a resilient member. The support frame includesan upper frame portion and a lower frame portion formed at opposite endsthereof. The hook module includes a plurality of connecting hooks. Theresilient member is fixed to the lower frame portion. The hook moduleand the resilient member are made of a conductive material. The hookmodule is configured for connecting workpieces in series via theconnecting hooks. A first end of the hook module is hung on the upperframe portion and a second end of the hook module is connected to theresilient member. The resilient member is capable of creating an elasticforce to tighten the workpieces to the hook module.

Other advantages and novel features will become more apparent from thefollowing detailed description when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, theemphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principlesof the present hanging device for anodizing. Moreover, in the drawings,like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views.

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an embodiment of a hanging device foranodizing.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the hanging device of FIG. 1 assembled with aplurality of workpieces for anodizing.

FIG. 3 is side view of a typical hanging device for anodizing.

FIG. 4 is front view of the typical hanging device of FIG. 3 assembledwith a plurality of workpieces for anodizing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, one embodiment of a hanging device 100 foranodizing, includes a support frame 31, a hanging hook 32, four firstconnecting hooks 34, a plurality of second connecting hooks 36, fourthird connecting hooks 38, and four resilient members 39.

The support frame 31 includes an upper frame portion 312, a lower frameportion 314, and two side frame portions (not labeled) electricallyconnecting the upper frame portion 312 to the lower frame portion 314.The upper frame portion 312 and the lower frame portion 314 arerectangular-shaped. The upper frame portion 312 is substantiallyparallel to the lower frame portion 314.

The hanging hook 32 is made of titanium. The hanging hook 32 is fixed tothe upper frame portion 312 and has a hook portion for hanging on acopper bar electrically connected to an anode.

The first connecting hooks 34, the second connecting hooks 36, and thethird connecting hooks 38 cooperatively form a hook module 50. The hookmodule 50 is made of a conductive material, such as aluminum. Each ofthe first, second, and third connecting hooks 34, 36, 38 may be formedby bending aluminum wires. Each first connecting hook 34 includes ahanging portion (not labeled) formed at a first end and a hook portion342 formed at a second end. The hanging portion of each first connectinghook 34 is configured to movably hang on the upper frame portion 312, sothat a distance between two adjacent first connecting hooks 34 can beconveniently adjusted. Two hook portions 362 are formed at opposite endsof each second connecting hook 36. A hook portion 382 and a fixingportion 384 are formed at opposite ends of each third connecting hook38. The fixing portion 384 of each third connecting hook 38 isconfigured for connecting to each of the resilient members 39. The hookportions 342, 362, 382 are all configured for fixing a plurality ofworkpieces 40.

The resilient members 39 are made of titanium. Each resilient member 39includes two ends fixed to the lower frame portion 314 and an archedportion (not labeled) connected to the fixing portion 384 of each thirdconnecting hook 38. The two ends of each resilient member 39 may befixed to the lower frame portion 314 by hot-pressure welding.

Referring also to FIG. 2, each workpiece 40 is made of aluminum anddefines four fixing holes 42. When using the hanging device 100, thehanging portions of two first connecting hooks 34 are movably hung on afirst side of the upper frame portion 312. The hook portions 342 of thetwo first connecting hooks 34 are latched into two fixing holes of afirst workpiece of the workpieces 40, thus the first workpiece is hungby two connecting hooks 34. The hook portions 362 at a first end of afirst pair of the second connecting hooks 36 are latched in the othertwo fixing holes 42 of the first workpiece, and the hook portions 342 ata second end of the first pair of the second connecting hooks 36 arelatched into two fixing holes of a second workpiece of the workpieces40. Thus, the first and the second workpieces are connected by the firstpair of the second connecting hooks 36 in series. Similarly, a thirdworkpiece of the workpieces 40 is connected to the second workpiece 40by a second pair of the second connecting hooks 36 and a fourthworkpiece of the workpieces 40 is connected to the third workpiece 40 bya third pair of the second connecting hooks 36. Therefore, the first,second, third, and fourth workpieces 40 are connected in series by thefirst, second, and third pair of second connecting hooks 36. Finally,the hook portions 382 of a pair of the third connecting hooks 38 arelatched in two fixing holes 42 of the fourth workpieces 40, and thefixing portions 384 of the third hooks 38 are connected to the archedportions of the resilient members 39. The resilient members 39 create anelastic force pulling the fixing portions 384 of the third hooks 38,thereby tightening the workpieces 40 to the hook module 50. Similarly, asecond side of the upper frame portion 312 may also hang four workpiecesby the hook module 50.

After the workpieces 40 are hung on the hanging device 100, the hanginghook 11 is hung on a copper bar that is electrically connected to ananode. The hanging device 100 and the workpieces 40 are submerged in anelectrolyte solution to anodize the workpieces 40 in the electrolytesolution.

Since the hook module 50 is made of aluminum, and aluminum is cheaperthan titanium, the production cost of the hanging device 100 isdecreased. The resilient members 39 create an elastic force for stablytightening the workpieces 40 to the hook module 50, so that electricalconductivity between the workpieces 40 and the hook module 50 isconsiderably enhanced. In addition, because electrical conductivitybetween the workpieces 40 and the hook module 50 is enhanced, anelectrical current passing through the workpieces 40 is stable. As aresult, an oxidation film formed on the workpieces 20 by anodizing has asufficient thickness, and the quality of the anodized aluminumworkpieces 20 is improved. Furthermore, the workpieces 40 areconveniently connected to the hook module 50 in series. Moreover, adistance between adjacent first connecting hooks 34 can be convenientlyadjusted, thus the hanging device 100 can be adapted to fix workpieceshaving different sizes.

It should be pointed out that, the resilient member 39 may be a tensionspring. A number of the first connecting hooks 34, the second connectinghooks 36, the third connecting hooks 38 and the resilient members 39 maybe adjusted according to a size of each workpiece 40 and a size of thesupport frame 31.

It is believed that the present embodiments and their advantages will beunderstood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent thatvarious changes may be made thereto without departing from the spiritand scope of the disclosure or sacrificing all of its materialadvantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely being exemplaryembodiments of the disclosure.

1. A hanging device for fixing a plurality of workpieces for anodizing,comprising: a support frame comprising an upper frame portion and alower frame portion formed at opposite ends thereof; a hook modulecomprising a plurality of connecting hooks; and at least one resilientmember fixed to the lower frame portion; wherein the hook module and theat least one resilient member are made of a conductive material; thehook module is configured for connecting the plurality of workpieces inseries via the connecting hooks; a first end of the hook module is hungon the upper frame portion and a second end of the hook module isconnected to the at least one resilient member; the at least oneresilient member is capable of creating an elastic force to tighten theplurality of workpieces to the hook module.
 2. The hanging device ofclaim 1, wherein the support frame is made of titanium and the hookmodule is made of aluminum.
 3. The hanging device of claim 1, whereinthe connecting hooks are made by bending aluminum wires.
 4. The hangingdevice of claim 1, wherein the connecting hooks comprises at least onefirst connecting hook, a plurality of second connecting hooks, and atleast one third connecting hook; the at least one first connecting hookcomprises a first end hung on the upper frame portion and a second endconnected to a first workpiece of the plurality of workpieces; eachsecond connecting hook comprises a first end fixed to the firstworkpiece and a second end fixed to a second workpiece of the pluralityof workpieces; the at least one third connecting hook comprises a firstend fixed to a last workpiece of the plurality of workpieces and asecond end fixed to the at least one resilient member.
 5. The hangingdevice of claim 4, wherein the first end of the at least one thirdconnecting hook is a hook portion fixed to the last workpiece and thesecond end of the third connecting hook is a fixing portion fixed to theat least one resilient member.
 6. The hanging device of claim 1, whereinthe at least one resilient member is made of titanium.
 7. The hangingdevice of claim 1, further comprising a hanging hook fixed to the upperframe portion, and electrically connected to an anode.
 8. The hangingdevice of claim 1, wherein the hanging hook is made of titanium.
 9. Ahanging device for fixing a plurality of workpieces for anodizing,comprising: a support frame comprising an upper frame portion and alower frame portion formed at opposite ends thereof; a hanging hookfixed to the upper frame portion and electrically connected to an anode;at least one resilient member fixed to the lower frame portion; a hookmodule comprising: at least one first connecting hook comprising a firstend hung on the upper frame portion and a second end connected to afirst one of the plurality of workpieces; a plurality of secondconnecting hooks comprising two ends fixed to two of the plurality ofworkpieces; and at least one third connecting hook comprising a firstend fixed to a last one of the plurality of workpieces and a second endfixed to the at least one resilient member; wherein the hook module andthe at least one resilient member are made of a conductive material; thehook module is configured for connecting the plurality of workpieces inseries via the at least one first connecting hook, the plurality ofsecond connecting hooks, and the at least one third connecting hook; theat least one resilient member is capable of creating an elastic force totighten the plurality of workpieces to the hook module.
 10. The hangingdevice of claim 9, wherein the support frame is made of titanium and thehook module is made of aluminum.
 11. The hanging device of claim 9,wherein the first end of the at least one third connecting hook is ahook portion fixed to the last one of the plurality of workpieces and asecond end of the third connecting hook is a fixing portion fixed to theat least one resilient member.
 12. The hanging device of claim 9,wherein the at least one resilient member is made of titanium; the atleast one resilient member has an arch-shaped portion.
 13. The hangingdevice of claim 9, wherein the hanging hook is made of titanium.